Sewing machine attachment

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine attachment wherein a pair of jaws are pneumatically closed to fold a cloth. Thereafter, a pneumatic clamp is moved against the cloth as the jaws are withdrawn to hold the folded cloth against a movable plate having a slot. The sewing machine moves the movable plate to bring the slot under the sewing machine needle to sew the fold, thereby providing a pleat. After the pleat has been sewn the pneumatic clamp releases the pleated cloth. The folding, clamping, and releasing operations are automatically and sequentially performed by a pneumatic system once the cycle is initiated by an operator.

United States Eatent Portilla, Jr.

[ Sept. 23, 1973 SEWlNG MACHINE ATTACHMENT Inventor: Mario Portilla, JL, .1975 Troy Ave,

Brooklyn, NY. 11234 Filed: Dec. 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 207,817

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1972 Firestein et al 112/134 1 2/ 1969 Kupcikevicius... 11/1961 Bonarrigo 223/31 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Att0rney-Alan l-l. Levine [5 7] ABSTRACT A sewing machine attachment wherein a pair of jaws are pneumatically closed to fold a cloth. Thereafter, a pneumatic clamp is moved against the cloth as the jaws are withdrawn to hold the folded cloth against a movable plate having a slot. The sewing machine moves the movable plate to bring the slot under the sewing machine needle to sew the fold, thereby providing a pleat. After the pleat has been sewn the pneumatic clamp releases the pleated cloth. The folding, clamping, and releasing operations are automatically and sequentially performed by a pneumatic system once the cycle is initiated by an operator.

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' ATTORNEY I SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT The present invention relates to devices for making pleats and in particular to a pneumatic sewing machine attachment for automatically making pleats. The invention finds particular utility in sewing pinch pleats along the upper margin of a curtain or drapery, but it is not limited to this purpose.

In the past, draperies have been folded and sewn to make pleats by sewing machine operators. To produce commercially acceptable draperies, the pleats must be uniform. Consequently, experienced sewing machine operators are required in order to manufacture a merchantable product. As a result, the cost of labor is a significant factor in the production of curtains and draperies.

It isan object of the present invention to provide an automatic sewing machine attachment for making uniform pleats.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic sewing machine attachment for reducing the manual labor required to manufacture pleats. I

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic sewing machine attachment for reducing the time required to manufacture pleated curtains or drapes.

To achieve some of the objectives mentioned above and others, the invention employs means for folding a cloth; means for clamping the folded cloth; means for moving the clamping means, thereby advancing the folded cloth under the needle of a sewing machine for sewing the fold in place; and control means for automatically and sequentially folding, clamping, and sewing the cloth.

The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a loaded sewing machine attachment, according to the invention, for making pleats, some parts of the the pneumatic circuit for operating the attachment not being shown;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part of a drape having pleats manufactured by the sewing machine attachment; 1

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sewing machine attachment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a cloth in the closed jaws of the sewing machine attachment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a folded cloth being held in position for sewing by the clamp of the sewing machine attachment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a jaw of the sewing machine attachment, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a cloth in the closed jaws of the sewing machine attachment, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the clamp of the sewing machine holding down a folded cloth, taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the sewing machine attachment, the folding apparatus having been moved aside and the clamping mechanism having been advanced by the sewing machine; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a pneumatic system used in the operation of the sewing machine attachment.

The sewing machine attachment chosen to illustrate the present invention includes, generally, (see FIGS. l and 3) a movable carriage II which supports jaws 32 and 33 for folding a cloth 40; a clamp member 55 for holding the folded cloth 40 against a movable plate 56; and means for moving the clamp member 55 and movable plate 56 thereby advancing the folded cloth 40 under the needle 88 of a sewing machine to sew the fold in place.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, the movable carriage 11 is pivotally connected by pin 12 to a support plate 13. A double acting pneumatic cylinder 14 is pivotally connected by pin I5 to the support plate 13 and the rod 16 of the pneumatic cylinder 14 is pivotally connected by pin 17 to the movable carriage 11. Thus, when the pneumatic cylinder 14 is operated, as described below, its rod 16 causes the movable carriage 11 to pivot about pin 12. The movable carriage 11 includes end walls 18 and 19 which are parallel to each other. A support member 20 is pivotally connected by pin 21 to end wall 18 and a support member 22 is pivotally connected by a pin (not shown) to the end wall 19. A pair of parallel guide rods 23 and 24 are perpendicularly fixed at one end to the support member 20 and at the other end to the support member 22. As a result, the support members 20 and 22 and parallel guide rods 23 and 24 are rotatable. The parallel guide rods 23 and 24 slidably support a jaw carriage 25. The support member 20 supports a double acting pneumatic cylinder 26 whose rod 27 is connected to the jaw carriage 25. When the cylinder 26 is actuated, as described below, the rod 27 causes the jaw carriage 25 to slide along the parallel guide rods 23 and 24. The jaw carriage 22 supports an eccentric load. Thus, to prevent the support member 20 and 22 from rotating due to the weight of the eccentric load, adjustable abutments 28 (only one shown in FIG. 3) secured to each of the support members 20 and 22 contact the movable carriage 11 and prevent the eccentric weight on the jaw carriage 25 from rotating parallel guide rods 23 and 24 away from a horizontal position. The jaw carriage 25 supports a bracket 29. A pair of parallel guide rods 30 and 31 are fixed at one end to the jaw carriage 25 and at the other end to the bracket 29. The guide rods 30 and 31 slidably support the pair of jaws 32 and 33. The jaw carriage 25 supports a double acting pneumatic cylinder 34 whose rod 36 is connected to jaw 32, a double acting pneumatic cylinder 35 whose rod 37 is connected to jaw 33. When operated as more fully described below, the pneumatic cylinders 34 and 35 cause the jaws 32 and 33 to move towards each other to form a pleat. After the pleat has been formed, an extending member 38 of the jaw 33 activates an air switch 39 which is fixed to the bracket 29. The air switch 39 causes the jaws 32 and 33 to open.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the jaw 32 includes a pair of plates 41 and 42 which are secured thereto by screws 43. In addition, the jaw 32 includes a pair of step tapered cylindrical holes44 (only one shown) which are threaded at the end having the larger diameter. As shown in FIG. 6, each cylindrical hole 44 supports a rod 45 having a flange 46; a screw 47 having a hole through which the rod extends; and a coil spring 48 which abuts against the flange 46 on one end and the screw 47 on the other, thereby urging the flange 46 against the step in the cylindrical hole 44. As a result, when the rods 45 are pushed and the flange 46 is moved away from the step, the spring 48 is compressed (see FIG. 7). When the pushing force is removed, the spring 48 urges the flange 46 against the step. The rods 45 include slots 49 to which there is secured by pins 50 a plate 51. Thus, when a force is applied to the plate 51, the rods 45 slide and the plate 51 enters the space between the parallel plates 41 and 42.

.law 33 supports a pair of parallel plates 52 and 53 (FIGS. 3 and 7) which are secured thereto by screws 43. As shown in FIG. 7, the plates 52 and 53 are spaced apart so as to be free to enter the spaces between plates 41, 42, and 51. As a result of the arrangement described above, the bracket 29, together with carriage 25 and support members 20 and 22 may be pivoted about pins 21 (only one shown in FIG. 3) to enable an operator to place a cloth 40 against the edges of plates 41, 51, and 42 as shown in FIG. 6. When the bracket 29 is lowered and the jaws 32 and 33 are pneumatically urged against each other, plate 51 pinches the cloth 40 against the edge 54 of jaw 33, the edge 54 of the jaw 33 pushes the plate 51 between plates 41 and 42, against the force of springs 48, and plates 52 and 53 engage and push the cloth 40 into the spaces between plates 41, 42 and 51, thereby folding the cloth 40. Before the jaws 32 and 33 are opened, a clamp member 55, more fully described below, comes down against the cloth 40. The clamp member 55 exerts a force, which compresses the fold (see FIG. 8) against a movable plate 56 as the jaws 32 and 33 are pneumatically withdrawn. After the jaws 32 and 33 have been withdrawn from the folded cloth 40, the bracket 29 is pneu matically moved by cylinder 26 towards support member 20 and the movable carriage 11 is pneumatically pivoted by cylinder 14 about pin 12 (see FIG. 9), therey removing the jaws 32 and 33 from the folded cloth 40 and permitting a sewing operation to take place.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 9, the sewing machine attachment includes a fixed plate 57 which is fastened to a sewing machine. The fixed plate 57 (see FIG. 3) includes an opening 58 which resembles a square having a semi-circular extension on one of its sides. In addition, the fixed plate 57 includes a slot 59 which is arcuately shaped and includes a radial extension at one of its ends. A hole (not shown) inthe fixed plate 57 rotatably supports a pin 60 having a slotted head. The fixed plate 57 slidably supports a drive link 61. The drive link 61 includes an extension which slidably engages the slot 62 in the rotatable pin 60. Moreover, a link 63 having a boss 64 which extends from the bottom side of fixed plate 57 into the slot 59 is fastened to the drive link 61 by a screw 65. As a result, the drive link 61 is slidably coupled to the plate 57 and is free to slide within limits established by the abutment of the boss 64 against the edges of slot 59. The drive link 61 includes a mounting block 66 which supports a double acting pneumatic cylinder 67. The drive link 61 includes two transverse extensions which support four rectangular plates 68. The rectangular plates 68 include extensions which slidably retain a rectangular rod 69. The rod 71 of the pneumatic cylinder 67 is connected to a bracket 70 which is fixed to the rectangular rod 69. Thus, when the pneumatic cylinder 67 is activated the rod 71 causes the rectangular rod 69 to slide with respect to the transverse extensions of the drive link 61.

Movable plate 56 includes an L-shaped slot 74 and is fastened by screws 72 to the slidable rectangular rod 69. The rectangular rod supports a U-shaped bracket 73 which is secured thereto by a pair of screws 72. The U-shaped bracket 73 pivotally supports a pair of arms 75 and 76 which, in addition, are fastened to each other by a rod 77. An end of arm 75 and an end of arm 76 support a sandwich arrangement consisting of a rectangular rod 78, a clamping member 55 and a rectangular rod 79. The U-shaped member 73 includes an extension which pivotally supports a double acting pneumatic cylinder 80. The rod 82 of the cylinder is connected to the connecting rod 77 by a coupling 83. Thus, when the pneumatic cylinder 80 is activated and rod 82 is extended the arms 75 and 76 move so as to urge the clamp member 55 towards movable plate 56. When the rod 82 of the cylinder 80 is withdrawn the arms 75 and 76 are caused to rotate, thereby moving the clamp member 55 away from the movable plate 56.

When the sewing machine attachment herein described is to be used with a sewing machine such as, for example, a Singer sewing machine from class 269W, the feed plate carrier bar 86 of the sewing machine is pivotally connected to a pin 87 which is fixed to the drive link 61 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 9). In addition, the lateral driving arm (not shown) of the sewing machine is connected to the link 63. As is well known, feed plate carrier 86 and the lateral driving bar are driven by a cam on the sewing machine. Movement of the feed plate carrier bar 86 or the lateral driving arm causes the drive link 61 and the movable plate 56 to move. Thus, if the sewing machine is on and the pneumatic cylinder 67 has been activated to retract its rod 71, and if the clamp member 55 is holding secure a folded cloth 40, the movable plate 56 is moved angularly by the sewing machine and the needle 88 of the sewing machine sews along the long portion of the L-shaped slot 74 until it reaches the elbow of the slot. Thereafter, the feed plate carrier bar 86 of the sewing machine causes the movable plate 56 to be moved radially to the end of the shorter side of the L-shaped slot 74 (see FIG. 9). When the end of the slot 74 has been brought to the sewing point, the motion of the movable plate 56 is reversed by the driving cam on the sewing machine. The angular and radial motion of the movable plate 56 with respect to the needle of the sewing machine causes the folded material to be sewn twice along an L-shaped path 90 (FIG. 2) similar to the L-shaped slot on the movable plate 56. When a sewing cycle has been completed the clamp member 55 is pneumatically lifted and a finished pleat may be removed. As a result of the folding, clamping, and sewing operations, pleats 89 such as those illustrated in FIG. 2 are provided.

The apparatus described above is operated in sequence by a pneumatic system. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, in the pneumatic system, a three-way toggle valve is connected by a hose 96 to a supply of pressurized air 97. The toggle valve 95 is connected by a hose 98 to an air switch 39 (see FIG. 3), the input port of a four-way valve 99, the input port of a four-way valve 100, and an air switch 101. When the toggle valve 95 is actuated by an operator, the air switches 39 and 101 and the four-way valves 99 and 100 receive compressed air.

Initially, the compressed air is coupled from the fourway valve 99 to the double acting cylinders 34 and 35 by hose 102. As a result, rod 36 is extended and rod 37 is drawn into its cylinder 35, thereby opening the jaws 32 and 33. In addition, the compressed air is coupled from the four-way valve 100 to air switch 103, double acting cylinder 67, double acting cylinder 14, volume chamber 104, and volume chamber 105 by hose 106. Volume chamber 104 is coupled to double acting cylinder 26 by hose 107 and volume chamber 108 is coupled to double acting cylinder 80 by hose 108. As a result, the rods 16, 27, and 71 of cylinders 14, 26, and 67, respectively, are extended and the rod 82 of cylinder 80 is withdrawn. Thus, the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 1, and clamp 55 is spaced above plate 56. The volume chambers serve as time delay devices since air pressure leaves them a brief interval after it enters.

With the sewing machine attachment in the stage just described, an operator places a cloth 40 against jaw 32 as is shown in FIG. 6 and activates air switch 103. Air switch 103 is connected by a hose 109 to an air pilot 110 which is connected to four-way valve 99. Thus, when the air switch is activated, the four-way valve causes the pressurized air to be disconnected from hose 102 and couples the pressurized air to hose 111. The hose 111 is directly connected to cylinder 34 and to a volume cylinder 112. The volume cylinder 112 is connected to cylinder 35 by hose 121. As a result, rod 36 is withdrawn into cylinder 34 and after a delay, rod 37 is extended (see dotted lines in FIG. thereby closing jaws 32 and 33 as shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 3, as the jaws 32 and 33 are closed, extending member 38 closes the air switch 39. The air switch is connected to an air pilot 114 which is connected to four-way valve 99 and to an air pilot 115 which is connected to four-way valve 100 by a hose 1 16. As a result, the pressurized air is transferred from hose 111 to hose 102, thereby opening the jaws 32 and 33; and simultaneously, the pressurized air is transferred from hose 106 to hose 117. The pressurized air in hose 117 is coupled to cylinder 80 and its rod 82 causes the clamping member 55 to move against the folded cloth 40 as, shown in FIG. 7. The hose 117 is coupled via volume 1 cylinder 118 to hose 119 and hose-119 is connected to cylinders 67 and 26. The air pressure in the hose 119 causes rods 71 and 27, respectively, to be drawn into cylinders 67 and 26. In addition, hose 119 is connected to cylinder 14 via a volume cylinder 120 and after a delay, rod 16 is drawn into cylinder 14. Thus, (see FIG. 9) the jaw carriage 25 is moved towards support member 20, the movable carriage 11 is rotated, and the movable plate 56 is moved into position for sewing, i.e., from the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein needle 88 is to the right of one end of slot 74, to the position shown in FIG. 5, wherein needle 88 is directly over one end of slot 74.

After the sewing operation has been completed, the operator of the machine actuates the air switch 101 which is connected to four-way valve 100, thereby causing the pressurized air to be transferred to hose 106 from hose 117. Alternatively, air switch 101 could be operated automatically by the sewing machine at the end of its sewing cycle. The air pressure in hose 106 extends rod 71, thereby moving the movable plate 56 back to its FIG. 4 position. Thereafter, the air pressure in hose 106, after a brief delay caused by the volume cylinder 105, draws rod 82 into cylinder 80, thereby lifting the clamping member. 55. In addition, the air pressure in hose 106, after a delay caused by volume cylinder 104, causes the rod 27 to be extended, thereby moving the jaw carriage 25 against support member 22. As a result, the movable parts of the sewing machine attachment are returned to the position shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing it may be seen that to operate the sewing machine attachment, an operator sequentially throws the toggle switch 95, places a cloth 40 against the plates 41, 51, and 42 of the jaw 32, and actuates the air switch 103. As a result, the jaws 32 and 33 close to fold the cloth 40, the clamp member 55 holds the cloth 40 against the movable plate 56, the jaws 32 and 33 are withdrawn, and the sewing machine moves the movable plate 56 under its needle to sew the fold in place. Thereafter, the operator actuates air switch 101, the

clamp member releases the formed pleat, and the machine returns to its original position ready for another cycle.

It is to be understood that the description herein of a preferred embodiment according to the invention is set forth as an example thereof and is not to be construed or interpreted as a limitation on the claims which follow and define the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine attachment for making pleats, comprising:

a. means for folding a cloth;

b. clamping means for initially holding the folded cloth at a location spaced from the path of longitudinal movement of the needle of the sewing machine c. means for moving the clamping means to bring the clamped folded cloth into the path of longitudinal movement of the sewing machine needle; and

d. means for moving the clamping means to advance the folded cloth during stitching of the cloth by the needle of the sewing machine.

2. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for folding a cloth includes first and second jaws between which the cloth is placed, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

3. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein said first jaw includes first spaced-apart extending means; said second jaw includes second spaced-apart extending means; and further including means for moving the jaws with respect to each other so that the second extending means move against the cloth and into the spaces created by the first extending means, thereby folding the cloth.

4. An attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein the first extending means includes a first pair of parallel plates, resilient means coupled to the first jaw, and a plate coupled to the resilient means; the second extending means include a second pair of parallel plates; and wherein the relative motion of the jaws initially causes the plate to move the cloth against the second jaw, thereby holding it in place, and thereafter compresses the resilient means as the cloth is folded.

5. An attachment as defined in claim 3 further including pneumatic means for moving the jaws with respect to each other.

6. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein the clamping means for holding the folded cloth includes: a base member; a clamping member movably mounted with respect to said base member; and means for moving the clamping member with respect to the base member, thereby engaging or releasing the folded cloth.

7. An attachment as defined in claim 6 wherein said base member has a slot adjacent to said clamping member when the latter is brought into engagement with said base member, said means (c) moving said clamping means with respect to the needle of the sewing machine to bring said slot into and out of alignment with the sewing machine needle.

8. An attachment as defined in claim 7 wherein the means (d) for moving the clamping means includes a drive link coupling the sewing machine to the base member.

9. An attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein the slot is L-shaped and said link moves said base member along an L-shaped path with respect to the needle of the sewing machine whereby the latter sews in the L- shaped slot, thereby providing an L-shaped seam for holding the fold in place.

10. An attachment as defined in claim 1 further ineluding control means for sequentially driving the means for folding the cloth, the clamping means, the means (c) and the means (d).

1 1. An attachment as defined in claim 10 wherein the control means includes a pneumatic control system.

12. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein the clamping means includes a base member, wherein said folding means includes a carriage, and wherein said jaws are pivotably coupled to the carriage to enable the loading of the first jaw with the cloth.

13. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein the folding means includes a carriage, and the jaws are slidably coupled with respect to the carriage to enable the jaws to be moved out of the way of the clamping means before the cloth is advanced.

14. An attachment as defined in claim 13 wherein the carriage is pivotably mounted with respect to the sewing machine to enable movement of the folding means out of the way of the clamping means. 

1. A sewing machine attachment for making pleats, comprising: a. means for folding a cloth; b. clamping means for initially holding the folded cloth at a location spaced from the path of longitudinal movement of the needle of the sewing machine c. means for moving the clamping means to bring the clamped folded cloth into the path of longitudinal movement of the sewing machine needle; and d. means for moving the clamping means to advance the folded cloth during stitching of the cloth by the needle of the sewing machine.
 2. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said means foR folding a cloth includes first and second jaws between which the cloth is placed, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.
 3. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein said first jaw includes first spaced-apart extending means; said second jaw includes second spaced-apart extending means; and further including means for moving the jaws with respect to each other so that the second extending means move against the cloth and into the spaces created by the first extending means, thereby folding the cloth.
 4. An attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein the first extending means includes a first pair of parallel plates, resilient means coupled to the first jaw, and a plate coupled to the resilient means; the second extending means include a second pair of parallel plates; and wherein the relative motion of the jaws initially causes the plate to move the cloth against the second jaw, thereby holding it in place, and thereafter compresses the resilient means as the cloth is folded.
 5. An attachment as defined in claim 3 further including pneumatic means for moving the jaws with respect to each other.
 6. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein the clamping means for holding the folded cloth includes: a base member; a clamping member movably mounted with respect to said base member; and means for moving the clamping member with respect to the base member, thereby engaging or releasing the folded cloth.
 7. An attachment as defined in claim 6 wherein said base member has a slot adjacent to said clamping member when the latter is brought into engagement with said base member, said means (c) moving said clamping means with respect to the needle of the sewing machine to bring said slot into and out of alignment with the sewing machine needle.
 8. An attachment as defined in claim 7 wherein the means (d) for moving the clamping means includes a drive link coupling the sewing machine to the base member.
 9. An attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein the slot is L-shaped and said link moves said base member along an L-shaped path with respect to the needle of the sewing machine whereby the latter sews in the L-shaped slot, thereby providing an L-shaped seam for holding the fold in place.
 10. An attachment as defined in claim 1 further including control means for sequentially driving the means for folding the cloth, the clamping means, the means (c) and the means (d).
 11. An attachment as defined in claim 10 wherein the control means includes a pneumatic control system.
 12. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein the clamping means includes a base member, wherein said folding means includes a carriage, and wherein said jaws are pivotably coupled to the carriage to enable the loading of the first jaw with the cloth.
 13. An attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein the folding means includes a carriage, and the jaws are slidably coupled with respect to the carriage to enable the jaws to be moved out of the way of the clamping means before the cloth is advanced.
 14. An attachment as defined in claim 13 wherein the carriage is pivotably mounted with respect to the sewing machine to enable movement of the folding means out of the way of the clamping means. 